BELEAGUERED Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez was hit by a twin blow last night, with goalkeeper Petr Cech and striker Demba Ba both set to miss Saturday’s clash with Wigan.

Chelsea striker Demba Ba walks off the pitch against Newcastle and past former boss Alan Pardew

Cech, 30, damaged his little finger in the first half of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Newcastle and a scan has confirmed that the injury is a fracture.

He is almost certainly out of Saturday’s game, but could also now miss Chelsea’s opening Europa League clash against his old club Sparta Prague next week.

Ba suffered a broken nose at St James’ Park after being kicked in the face by Fabricio Coloccini and he too is almost certain to miss a game Benitez must win.

Whether I can play will depend on whether we find a solution which would allow me to perform. If I was unable to give 100 per cent I would not play. With the splint I have now, it would not be possible

Petr Cech

Cech travelled to Prague to link up with the Czech squad preparing for their friendly with Turkey in Manisa tomorrow, but after a scan returned to England.

He has suffered a string of niggling injuries recently and said: “Whether I can play will depend on whether we find a solution which would allow me to perform. If I was unable to give 100 per cent I would not play. With the splint I have now, it would not be possible.”

The news is a major blow for Benitez, whose already brief reign is hanging by a thread after a desperate run of just three wins in his last 10 games.

Demba Ba feels the pain against his old club Newcastle

Senegal striker Ba is also being monitored, but a club source said: “His face was very swollen.”

Ba told Chelsea Magazine that, when he recovers, trophies will be his aim.

“The first thing for me would be to win a trophy, because I haven’t won any so far,” he said. “I would like to see how it feels. I want to win the league and the Champions League. They won it last season, so why not do it again?”

Chelsea Magazine is on sale today. Read the full interview in the March edition (£3.25).